Welding stainless

[Trundle]

Just after a bit of quick advice, and hoping this is the best place to find a decent and workable answer.
I have come across some nice stainless rail that could be easily modded into sliders/steps for my 130, with a couple of quick cut and welds and some mounts.
I have a decent mig, but want to know if I'm going to create any issues welding it with bog standard wire (gasless) or if I should go and get a new bottle, and use standard mig, or spend extra dollars on stainless feed?
Thanks in advance guys.
Cheers

[spudboy]

I'm thinking TIG....

It will probably weld with normal mild steel wire, but of course it will rust eventually. I've not tried MIG with SS wire, but it sounds possible!

Any chance you can cut it all to size /make it fit and just take it somewhere to get it TIGged?

[Trundle]

I'm thinking TIG....

The one thing I can't do in my shed currently...
It almost seems like an excuse to buy a TIG...:D

Recommendations???

[justfishing]

Hello,
You can get s/s wire but need a bottle of argon. welding with gasless not recommended it would crack it not hold for long but not for long and, the best bet is to get S/S 316 stick rods (arc welding) work great but wear glasses as the flux does fly off once the welds cools. TIG is the best but again you need a bottle of argon. Any welders on ebay are pretty good value for the home user. A couple of hundred dollars if serious then something other than a BOC as they are Chinese as ebay is better. Are you far from Perth ??
Ian

[davidsonsm]

I sourced some gasless st stl wire out of the states. For a MIG. Not used it yet. But it is available.

[flagg]

Not all BOC are Chinese, my 230 elite is a rebranded EWM (French).

[flagg]

If possible go to a welding store where you can try before you buy. I bough a Chinese TIG and it was horrible to use. No idea if i was just unlucky or spoilt with the other tigs i use but it was crap and then died. And it wasn't cheap either! (200AC). If i had tried it before i handed over my hard earned i wouldn't have bought it.

[Trundle]

Are you far from Perth ??
Ian

Cheers Ian, only a measly 700km South East of Perth. Not far really:o
I'll look into the rods, I've got the trusty old arc here gathering dust.
Cheers

[85 county]

Done heaps. depending on the wall thickness of the rods.

2.4 ss rods are easy to get, in NZ i could get 1.6 rods but have been unable to get them here.
smooth rods to use to nice hiss but a bit wet so you will need to weld on the bench and roll your work,
fitt and tack up on the top is ok

[spudboy]

Not all BOC are Chinese, my 230 elite is a rebranded EWM (French).

Yeah - my BOC MIG is a rebranded Kemppi, which is made in Finland, and has been an excellent unit.

[justfishing]

Not all BOC are Chinese, my 230 elite is a rebranded EWM (French).

More than 90% of the NEWER products are never been a fan of their products, everyone to their own, I do have to get my gas there.
ian

[Trundle]

Thanks for all that guys. Appreciate it. I normally would have Argon in the shed, but lately have done little metal work and returned all my gases 18 months ago when I moved across the country. I hate the spatter from gasless work.
I might pick a bottle next week and a some stainless wire and see how we go.
I'll put the trusty old Migomag through its paces again and blow out some cobwebs.
Cheers

[85 county]

Oh in case you do not realize, argon for ss is just that ARGON not arosheald or a mix.